The Ombudsman Is Investigating Secretary Alcala (Boy Bawang) for Garlic Cartel Scam

Current Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and several Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) officials are under investigation by the office of the Ombudsman for graft for their alleged involvement in the garlic cartel that spiked prices in 2014.

In a press statement on Wednesday, the Office of the Ombudsman said their Field Investigation Office (FIO) filed a graft complaint-affidavit against Alcala and four (4) BPI officials: former BPI director Clarito Barron, Quarantine Chief Merle Palacpac, Jesus Bajacan and former Quarantine chief Luben Marasigan. Included in the complaint are Lilia Cruz and the incorporators of the Vegetable Importers, Exporters and Vendors Association of the Philippines Inc (VIEVA).

The FIO also included in the graft complaint alleged dummy importer Lilia Cruz, who headed the Vegetable Importers, Exporters and Vendors Association of the Philippines, Inc. (VIEVA), which is allegedly behind the garlic cartel that spiked garlic prices from P80 to as much as P300 per kilo in 2014. She allegedly used dummies to collect multiple clearances, allowing her to corner a large chunk of the country's garlic supply.

In its complaint, the FIO said from January to July 2014, prices of garlic spiked, which compelled the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct an investigation into possible profiteering, hoarding and cartel-like activities.

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Abu Sayyaf groups beheads another Canadian hostage

According to a report on Al Jazeera, Canadian Robert Hall was executed by the Philippine based terrorist group Abu Sayyaf after ransom demands apparently were not met.  

Robert Hall was confirmed dead on Monday by a military source who spoke to Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity prior to the official announcment.

Last April, the severed head of Canadian hostage John Ridsdel, 68, was found on the streets of Samal Island in the southern Philippines.

Robert Hall, his Filipina girlfriend Maritess Flor, fellow Canadian John Ridsdel and Norwegian resort manager Kjartan Sekkinstad were taken from a marina in the Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte on Septemper 21 last year.

SOCE Names Biggest Spender in Election 2016

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte campaign expendetures is at P371.46 million, 4 million less the total campaign contributions he received, according to his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE).

Duterte’s biggest contributors were Antonio Floirendo Jr., P75 million; Dennis Uy, P30 million; Samuel Uy, P30 million; and Lorenzo Te, P30 million, all from Davao City; and Bienvenido Tan of Makati City, P20 million.

Vice President-elect Leni Robredo spent a total of P418,664,130.60 for her vice presidential campaign. She received a total of P423,163,737.34 in contributions. Of this amount, P17,057,487.15 of the donations were in kind.

This is based on the Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) submitted to the Commission on Elections (Comelec):

Vice President Jejomar Binay’s SOCE got a total of P463,453,000 cash contributions, and had a total expeditures of P463,375,216.37.

Senator Gregorio Honasan cash contribution is P25,790,000 and P173,450 in-kind. He spent P26,259,889.20 with P296,449.20 coming from his personal funds.

Outgoing Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago declared having received and spent an equal amount of P74,652,689.87, all are donated in-kind from her party, People’s Reform Party (PRP).

Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., expenditures is at P140,539,366.34, he got a total of P123,640,000.00 in cash contributions and P7,067,735.00 in kind donations. He also paid out a total of P9,831,760.42 in personal funds.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV based on his SOCE got P61,159,497.87, with P61,000,000 and P159,497.87, in cash and in kind contributions. His total expenditures totalled to P61,896,067.36 including P736,569.49 from personal funds.

Allan Peter Cayetano, it said he received contributions amounting to P188,930,000.00 and spent P189,129,872.48.

Presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe revealed she received a total of P511,950,000.00 in cash contributions and had total expenditures amounting to P510,845,262.56.

Poe’s partner in the May 2016 polls, Senator Francis Joseph Escudero, got a total of P322,100,000.00 in cash and P467,073.60 in kind donations amounting to P322,567,073.60. He spent of P321,014,827.64.

Presidential Race Top Spender:
1. Grace Poe - P510,845,262.56
2. Jejomar Binay - P463,453,000
3. Rodrigo Duterte - P371.46 million
4. Miriam Defensor-Santiago - P74,652,689.87
5. Manuel Roxas II - failed to submit his SOCE

Vice-Presidential Race Top Spender:
1. Leni Robredo - P418,664,130.60
2. Francis Joseph Escudero - P321,014,827.64
3. Allan Peter Cayetano  - P189,129,872.48
4. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr - P140,539,366.34
5. Antonio Trillanes IV - P61,896,067.36
6. Gregorio Honasan - P26,259,889.20

Liberal Party’s standard-bearer, Manuel Roxas II, failed to submit his SOCE.

The top 5 spenders in the senatorial race were:

1. Francis Tolentino at P199,146,623.72
2. Joel Villanueva P163,787,074.02
3. Sherwin Gatchalian, P157,077,338.62
4. Ralph Recto, P131,867,403.89
5. Isko Domagoso, P120,197,670.90.

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President Rodrigo Duterte Present His new batch of Cabinet members To the Media

Davao City, Philippines — Incoming president Rodrigo Duterte presented his cabinet to the media in Panacan, Davao City.

The event at the Presidential Guest House comes a day after Congress proclaimed Duterte as the duly-elected next president of the country.

The new appointees announced:

• Department of the Interior and Local Government secretary - Former South Cotabato Governor and former PDP-Laban chairman Mike Sueño
• Department of National Defense - Retired Major General Delfin Lorenzana
• Department of Science and Technology - Former Science Undersecretary Fortunato Dela Peña
• Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) - Retired police general Isidro Lapeña, Former Davao City olice Chief
• National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council - 5th Infantry Division chief Ricardo Jalad
• Undersecretary of the Department of Local and Interior Government (DILG) - Catalino Cuy, a former police chief of Davao City who later became head of the Philippine National Police (PNP’s) Special Action Force before the Mamasapano
• Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chief (LTO)- Lawyer Martin Delgra
• Bureau of Immigration (BOI) - Retired General Jaime Morente, a former police chief for Southern Mindanao
• Department of Science and Technology Secretary - undersecretary Fortunato dela Peña
• National Bureau of Investigation for Southern Mindanao - Lawyer Dante Gieran

OFW Luggage Ranscaked in NAIA

An OFW share his frustration and anger on Social Media whe he discovered that his luggage were tampered with and items worth P10,000 went missing. He said that he suspect that it happened at NAIA Terminal 1 since it took 30 minutes for his luggage to appear on the conveyor belt.

Architect Dennis Silades, 30, an OFW who works in Saudi Arabia was shocked and angry when he recently came home to Manila and discovered that his luggage has been ransacked. When he checked he discovered that some of his belongings were already gone. Aside from some of his pants and jackets, two watches and some chocolates were also stolen. He said the items that went missing amounted to PHP10,000.

He said he contacted the airport to complain and get help but was given the run-around.
Later, NAIA-1 manager Dante Basanta told ABS-CBN News that Silades had to file a complaint at their office. Silades has given up on the case as his vacation time is limited.

Lalake Nahuling Namboboso

Isang construction worker na nakilalang si Fernando Dulce, Jr ay arrestado pagkatapos na mahuling namboboso sa isang babae habang naliligo sa loob ng apartelle sa Makati.

Nahuli ng isang 20-anyos na babaeng biktima si na namboboso Dulce habang siya ay naliligo at napansin nyang lumaki na ang butas sa pader ng katabing CR na panlalake.

Dalidali siyang nagsumbong sa room attendant pero nang komprontahin ng attendant ang lalaki ay ito pa ang nagalit.

Rumesponde naman agad ang mga barangay tanod at hinuli ang suspek na si Fernando Dulce, Jr.

Hindi humarap sa kamera si Dulce pero depensa niya, naglalaba lamang umano siya sa loob ng CR.

Kinuwestyon naman ng biktima kung paano nakapasok ang suspek sa panlalaking CR ganoong matagal na itong isinara.

Labis din ang takot ng biktima sa nangyari lalo't mag-isa lang siyang lumuwas ng probinsya para magtrabaho sa Maynila. Pero dahil sa insidente, balak na lamang niyang umuwi sa kanila.

Desidido rin ang biktima na sampahan ng kaso ang suspek para turuan ng leksyon.

Babae Hinipuan ng Jeepney Driver; LTFRB Wants License of "MANYAK" Driver Suspended (Woman sexually harassed by jeepney driver)

A woman passenger complained that the jeepney driver she was riding sexually harassed her. She was crying while she was being interviewed, she recalled her traumatic experience, saying she will not forgive the suspect for what he did.

It happened last May 23, after her graveyard shift work at a fast-food restaurant chain she boarded a Fairview jeepney in Cubao to get home at around 6 a.m..

"Hindi ko naman akalain na yung normal na araw na yun is magiging karumal-dumal po pala sa akin."

She sat in the front portion of the jeepney with plate number TVY 561. The back portion was already full of passengers at that time, she said.

The driver, identified as Emmanuel Escalona, later started bothering her and nag her to remove her bag that she had placed on her lap.

"Nung umaandar po, three times niya po sinabi sa akin na yung bag ko na kalong-kalong ko, na ilagay ko daw po sa pagitan naming dalawa para daw po hindi ako mahirapang umupo."

"After po nun, parang nagagalit na siya sa akin, so ang ginawa ko, nilagay na lang, kasi medyo natatakot na rin ako sa kanya."

She also said that the she saw the driver suspiciously stare at her body. Although she was scared, she remained alert and started to take a video of the driver using her mobile phone.

The video shows that the driver regularly stares at the female passenger and he was captured sticking his tongue out.

When all other passengers are gone, the driver then suddenly touched her on her private part, she said.

"May sinabi pa siya sa akin na ang sarap daw bago yun, bago niya in-ano yung maselan kong bahagi. Sa pants ko, ginanun niya."

Without wasting another second, Llacuni immediately jumped off the jeepney even though it was still in transit.

Turning emotional, she said, "Bale nung paghawak niya po sa maselang bahagi po ng katawan ko, tumalon na lang po ako. kahit napakabilis po ng takbo."

"Buti na lang po meron pong kotse na nakaparada dun, humampas lang po yung leeg ko. And then meron po kami kasing kasunod na jeep na nagalit pa po sa akin na sabi daw, bakit daw po ako tumalon, buti daw hindi ako pumailalim sa jeep niya kasi konting-konti na lang po," she said.

The 21-year-old immediately proceeded to the office of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to report the incident and file a sexual harassment complaint against Escalona.

LTFRB Chairman Atty. Winston Ginez said they will recommend to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) that Escalona's driver's license be suspended.

"Ang mahalaga ay pagbawalan kaagad itong driver na ito sa kanyang pagmamaneho," Ginez said, noting the strong evidence that they have against Escalona.

Source: http://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/metro-manila/05/26/16/woman-sexually-harassed-by-jeepney-driver-recalls-trauma